Lady Pirates 2-2 at IML Classic

Last weekend the Pirates stormed the court at the Intermountain League Classic tournament, hosted by Bayfield at Fort Lewis College.

The Pirates lost two of their four matches, ending the tournament 6-6 for sets.

“It was a hard tournament because it was one game after another, without any down time,” Coach Connie O’Donnell said.

The Pirates’ first match was against the undefeated victors at the tournament, the Bayfield Wolverines. Pagosa lost the match in three sets: 15-25, 13-25, 15-25.

“We started off pretty slow, but we played better as the day went on,” O’Donnell said, which was evidenced by the Pirates’ next match against Centauri.

The Pirates defeated Centauri in three: 25-21, 25-23, 25-14.

Next, Pagosa took on the Alamosa Mean Moose and lost without winning a set: 23-25, 20-25, 15-25.

The Pirates’ final match of the day was against Monte Vista, and the Pagosa Pirates earned a victory in three sets: 25-23, 25-12, 25-21.

O’Donnell said that senior Gabby Pajak was strong with blocking and hitting, and both Megan Davey and Anissa Lucero stood out with their serves.

Also, the younger Pirates, O’Donnell said, have become more aggressive at the net.

“Working with them one-on-one in practice has helped them to have a more aggressive approach toward hitting and learn the timing,” O’Donnell said.

Tonight, the Lady Pirates will host Farmington, at 6 p.m.

Farmington will go into the game with one win in the record book.

“We need to focus more before the game starts. We need to do things right instead of doing things impetuously, without thinking, and then having to play catch up,” O’Donnell said, and that is what she hopes to do prior to playing Farmington.